Folding service line

ABSTRACT

A folding boom assembly supported articulated well service pipeline for the transfer of pressurized fluids from service vehicles to petroleum wellheads for the treatment and stimulation of production oil wells. The boom assembly is mounted on a truck, trailer or other suitable mobile support and the articulated pipeline comprises a plurality of long straight pipe sections interconnected by a plurality of pipe elbows and by swivel joints. Each of the pipe sections is supported by a corresponding boom section aligned generally parallel to the pipe section. The boom sections and their corresponding pipe sections are folded onto the service vehicle for transportation and are extended for connection to a wellhead. Supports between the ground and the boom sections reduce the loads transmitted to the service vehicle and allow the use of lighter and less costly boom assemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to well servicing equipment, and moreparticularly, to apparatus for conducting pressurized fluids from aservice vehicle to a wellhead.

2. Description of the Prior Art

During the course of producing fluids from a petroleum well it is oftendesirable or necessary to subject the well to a treatment procedure inorder to stimulate its fluid production. This procedure usually involvesthe injection of fluids under high pressure, such as 20,000 psi, tofacture the producing earth formation, or the injection of an acidsolution to dissolve or otherwise remove flow obstructing material,thereby increasing the flow of petroleum from the formation into thewell. In order to carry out these well stimulation procedures, it iscommonplace to employ an articulated pipe assembly, called a serviceline, to conduct the fluid from a pump system to the wellhead. Such aservice line usually comprises a plurality of straight links of rigidpipe interconnected end-to-end by pipe swivel joints, and sufficientpipe unions to facilitate disassembly into sections that can be handledmanually.

Where pipe of larger than normal diameter and thus of greater weight isused in order to increase the volume of fluid injected into the well ata given time period, or to reduce the time for injecting a given fluidvolume, additional personnel and/or time are required to unload theservice line sections from their transport, assemble them and connectthe line to the wellhead and then disassemble the line and reload thesections upon completion of fluid injection. Another disadvantage of aconventional service line is that it rests unrestrained on the groundbetween the transport and the wellhead and thus is free to whip aboutand possibly injure personnel or equipment if it breaks under pressure.Fluid flowing through the service line causes the line to vibrate so theline may sink into any ground that is muddy or soft. It is also known toemploy an articulated well service pipeline mounted on and supported atall times by a mobile telescoping boom assembly that can be extendedfrom its transport base to carry the service line to a wellhead forconnection thereto and for retracting the service pipeline for transportfrom one location to another. This articulated pipeline may include arelatively large number of fairly short sections of pipe interconnectedby a plurality of elbows and swivel joints that extend from and retractinto their rest or stowed position in an accordion-like manner. Suchaccordion-type service lines are relatively expensive to build and it isdifficult to drain fluid from these lines because the elbows and pipejoints are below other portions of the service line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention eliminates some of the disadvantages of the priorart by using a folding boom assembly to support an articulated servicepipeline. The boom assembly includes a plurality of boom sectionspivotally connected in an end-to-end manner with boom supports eachconnected to the outer end of a corresponding one of the boom sectionsand with the inner end of the boom assembly connected to a transportvehicle. The articulated service line includes a plurality of pipesections each supportively connected to a corresponding one of the boomsections. The boom supports hold the boom sections above ground andallow the boom sections to be made of lighter and less expensivematerial than would be required if the boom assembly were supported onlyat the inner end. A plurality of hydraulic cylinders move the boomassembly and the service line between a stowed position and an extendedposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the folding service lineof the present invention with the solid line showing the service line ina fully retracted position and with the dashed lines showing the serviceline in a fully extended position.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the serviceline in a fully extended position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial section taken along the line 3--3 of FIG.1 showing details of the joints between adjacent sections of the foldingservice line of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the folding serviceline of the present invention with the solid line showing the serviceline in a partially extended position and with the dashed lines showingthe service line in a fully extended position.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the folding service line of FIG. 4 showing theservice line in a fully extended position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the folding serviceline of the present invention with the service line shown in a stowedposition.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the service line of FIG. 6 with theservice line in a fully extended position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The folding service line disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes anarticulated boom assembly 10 having a plurality of boom sections 11-13pivotally interconnected in an end-to-end manner. The inboard end of theinner boom section 11 is pivotally connected to a turret 17 for movementabout a horizontal axis A. The turret 17 is rotatably mounted on apedestal 18 for movement about a vertical axis B and the pedestal 18 issecured to a transportable chassis 19 for transportation to and from awork site. The inboard end of the intermediate boom section 12 ispivotally connected to the outboard end of the inner boom section 11 forpivotal movement about a horizontal axis C and the inboard end of theouter boom section 13 is connected to the boom section 12 for pivotalmovement about a horizontal axis D.

A hydraulic elevating cylinder 23 connected between the turret 17 andthe inner boom section 11 pivots the boom 10 upward about the horizontalaxis A to a generally horizontal position for transportation on thechassis 19, or lowers the boom 10 into an oriented position shown inFIG. 1. In the oriented position a support pod 24 and a foot 25 supportthe outer end of the inner boom 11 so the boom 10 can be unfolded intothe work position shown in the dashed lines of FIG. 1 with an outersupport 29 resting on the ground G to support the outer end of the boomsection 13.

Each of the boom sections 11-13 comprises a pair of generally parallelboom members 11a, 11b; 12a, 12b; 13a, 13b (FIG. 2) pivotallyinterconnected by a pair of boom joints 30, 31 (FIGS. 1-3). The boomjoints (FIG. 3) each includes an inner cylindrical sleeve 35 having apair of radially inward flanges 36, 37 at the end thereof and with thesleeve 35 of joint 31 (FIGS. 2, 3) connected to the boom members 12a,12b by a plurality of capscrews 40 each extending through a bore 41 inone of the boom members 12a, 12b into a threaded bore 42 in one of theflanges 36, 37. An outer cylindrical sleeve 46 of joint 31 is rotatablymounted around the inner sleeve 35 by a plurality of bearings 47-50 andthe sleeve 46 is welded or otherwise connected to the outer boom members13a, 13b. The boom joint 30 is similarly constructed to interconnect theboom sections 11, 12.

The outer boom section 13 is moved from the folded position shown in thesolid lines in FIG. 1 into the extended position shown in the dashedlines of FIG. 1 by power apparatus 57 comprising a hydraulic cylinder 58pivotally connected to an ear 59 on the boom section 13 and having acylinder rod 60 connected to a L-shaped lever 64 which in turn ispivotally connected to an ear 65 on the intermediate boom section 12. Alever arm 66 is pivotally connected between the boom section 12, and theL-shaped lever 64. Similar apparatus for folding and extending boomsections is shown in more detail in the embodiment of the inventionshown in FIGS. 6, 7 and this apparatus will be described in more detailhereinafter. Another power apparatus 69 comprising a hydraulic cylinder70 pivotally connected to an ear 71 on the inner boom section 11 andhaving a hydraulic rod 72 pivotally connected to an L-shaped lever 76folds and extends the intermediate boom section 12 relative to the innerboom section 11. The L-shaped lever 76 is pivotally connected to an ear77 on the intermediate boom 12 and the lever arm 78 is connected betweenthe inner boom section 11 and the L-shaped lever 76.

An articulated service line 82 (FIGS. 1, 2) having a plurality of pipesections 83-85 is supported by the boom assembly 11 and folds andextends along with the boom assembly. Each of the pipe sections 83-85 ismounted for support to a corresponding one of the boom sections 11-13 byone or more mounting brackets 86. The pipe sections 83-85 are connectedby a plurality of pipe swivel joints 89, 90 and are connected to aninput swivel joint 91 and to an output swivel joint 92. Each of theswivel joints 89-92 (FIGS. 2, 3) includes an inner joint member 96 andan outer joint member 97 rotatably surrounding the inner joint member.Each of the pipe swivel joints 89, 90 is mounted inside a correspondingone of the boom joints 30, 31 with the pipe joint "floating" inside thecorresponding boom joint to accommodate any expansion or contraction ofthe pipe sections relative to the boom sections. The outer pipe swiveljoint 92 is similarly mounted in a boom joint 32 at an outboard end ofthe boom section 13. The inner and outer joints are each connected to atleast one of the pipe sections 83-85 by one or more pipe elbows 98. Aconnector pipe 101 is connected to the outer pipe swivel joint 92 by apipe elbow 98 and the inner pipe swivel joint 91 is connected to avertical inlet pipe 102 (FIGS. 1, 2) by another pipe elbow 98.

Another embodiment of the folding service line disclosed in FIGS. 4 and5 includes an articulated boom assembly 110 having a plurality of boomsections 111-113 pivotally interconnected in an end-to-end manner. Eachof the boom sections 111-113 includes a single boom member 111a-113arather than the parallel pair of boom members disclosed in FIGS. 1-3.The inward end of the intermediate member 112a is fixed to a sheave 106for pivotal movement about the horizontal axis C and the boom member112a is raised and lowered by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 107, 108.The cylinders 107, 108 are mounted on the inner boom member 111a and ahydraulic rod 117 of the cylinder 107 is connected to the sheave 106 bya cable 118. A cable 119 is connected between the sheave 106 and ahydraulic rod 123 of the cylinder 108. Contraction of the rod 117 intothe cylinder 107 and extension of the rod 123 from the cylinder 108causes the sheave 106 and the boom section 112 (FIG. 4) to rotatecounterclockwise about the horizontal axis C. The inboard end of theouter boom member 113 is fixed to a cam 124 for pivotal movement of theouter boom member about the horizontal axis D. A cable 125 is connectedbetween the cam 124 and the hydraulic cylinder 126. The cylinder 126 ispivotally connected to an ear 130 on the inner boom section 112. Whenthe cable 125 is retracted toward the cylinder 126 the cam 124 and theouter boom member 113 rotate counterclockwise from the solid lineposition in FIG. 4 into a horizontal position shown in the dashed linesin FIG. 4. When the intermediate boom section 112 is rotated clockwisethe boom is moved into the dashed line position shown in FIG. 4 with theouter end of the boom section 111 supported above ground by a pod 131and a foot 132. The outer end of the boom section 112 is supported by apod 136 and a foot 137, and the outer end of the section 113 issupported by an outer support 129. The service line of FIGS. 4 and 5 canbe connected to a wellhead and operated with the outer support 129 atany one of a plurality of positions between the solid line positionshown in FIG. 4 and the dashed line position shown in FIG. 4. Thus, thedistance between the truck chassis 19 and the wellhead is not criticaland the truck chassis 19 can be readily positioned in a working positionadjacent a wellhead and the boom assembly extended to reach thewellhead.

A third embodiment of the present invention disclosed in FIGS. 6 and 7is similar to the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 except the outerboom section 213 is folded into a position between the inner boomsection 211 and the intermediate boom section 212 when the boom assembly210 is in the stowed position shown in FIG. 6. In order to fold the boomsection 213 as shown, the power apparatus 57 is mounted on the undersideof the extended boom section 212 (FIG. 7) as opposed to the mountingdisclosed in the dashed lines of FIG. 1. The power apparatus 69 forfolding and extending the intermediate boom section 212 is mounted inthe manner described in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. When thecylinder 70 is contracted the rod 72 causes the L-shaped lever 76 topivot about a horizontal axis E and causes the lever 78 to pivot about ahorizontal axis F to extend the intermediate boom section 212 from thestowed position of FIG. 6 toward the extended position of FIG. 7. Theouter ends of the boom sections 211, 212, 213 are each supported at theouter end by the pods 24, 142, 144 and the corresponding feet 25, 143and 145.

The present invention includes a folding boom assembly which supports anarticulated well service pipeline having a plurality of long straightpipe sections interconnected by pipe elbows and swivel joints. Each ofthe pipe sections is supported by a corresponding boom section. The boomassembly and the service pipeline are folded onto a service vehicle fortransportation and are extended for connection to a wellhead. Supportsbetween the ground and the boom sections reduce the loads transmitted tothe service vehicle so lighter boom assemblies can be used.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the presentinvention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent thatmodification and variation may be made without departing from what isregarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A boom supported folding service line for use inwell service operations to interconnect a supply of pressurized fluid toa wellhead comprising:an articulated boom assembly having a plurality ofboom sections; an articulated pipe service line having a plurality ofpipe sections; means for supportively connecting each of said boomsections to a corresponding one of said pipe sections; a plurality ofboom section supports each having a foot for resting on the ground;means for connecting each of said boom section supports to an outer endof a corresponding one of said boom sections so said foot rests on theground to support said outer end of the corresponding boom section whensaid boom assembly is at least partially extended; means for moving saidboom assembly and said service line from a stowed position to anextended position by first lowering the outer end of an inner boomsection until a boom section support is positioned between ground andthe outer end of said inner boom section; means for then pivotallymoving an intermediate boom section until a boom section support ispositioned between ground and the outer end of the intermediate boomsection; and means for next pivotally moving an outer boom section untila boom section support is positioned between ground and the outer end ofthe outer boom section.
 2. A boom supported service line for use in wellservice operations to interconnect a supply of pressurized fluid to awellhead comprising:an articulated boom assembly having a plurality ofboom sections; an articulated pipe service line having a plurality ofpipe sections; means for supportively connecting each of said boomsections to a corresponding one of said pipe sections; a plurality ofboom section supports each having a foot for resting on the ground;means for connecting each of said boom section supports to an outer endof a corresponding one of said boom sections so said foot rests on theground to support said outer end of the corresponding boom section whensaid boom assembly is at least partially extended; means for moving saidboom assembly and said service line from a stowed position to anextended position by first lowering the outer end of an inner boomsection until a boom section support is positioned between ground andthe outer end of said inner boom section; and means for then pivotallymoving an intermediate boom section about the outer end of said innerboom section and pivotally moving an outer boom section about the outerend of said intermediate boom section until a boom section support ispositioned between ground and the outer end of said outer boom section.3. A boom supported service line as defined in claim 2 wherein saidmeans for moving said boom assembly includes a sheave rotatablyconnected to an outer end of a first boom section and fixed to an innerend of a second boom section, a pair of hydraulic cylinders each havingan extendable rod, means for connecting each of said hydraulic cylindersto said first boom section, a pair of cables, means for connecting eachof said cables between said sheave and a corresponding one of saidextendable rods to pivotally move said second boom section about saidouter end of said first boom section as said first and said second rodsare extended and retracted.
 4. A boom supported service line as definedin claim 3 wherein said hydraulic cylinder rods can be partiallyextended to move said service line into a partially extended position.5. A boom supported service line as defined in claim 2 wherein furtherpivotal movement of said outer boom section and of said intermediateboom section positions a boom support between ground and the outer endof said intermediate boom section.
 6. A boom supported service line asdefined in claim 2 including a plurality of hollow boom joints, with acorresponding one of said boom joints connected at each end of each ofsaid boom sections, and wherein said means for connecting each of saidboom sections to a corresponding pipe section includes means forfloating said pipe line through said hollow joints with no pipe supportinside said hollow joints.
 7. A boom supported service line as definedin claim 2 wherein said means for moving said boom assembly includes acam rotatably connected to an outer end of a first boom section andfixed to an inner end of a second boom section, a hydraulic cylinderhaving an extendable rod, means for connecting said hydraulic cylinderto said first boom section, a cable, means for connecting said cablebetween said cam and said extendable rod to pivotally move said secondboom section in a first direction when said rod is retracted and gravitypivotally moves said second boom section in a second direction when saidrod is extended.
 8. A boom supported service line as defined in claim 2including a plurality of boom joints, each of said boom jointscomprising: an inner cylindrical sleeve, means for connecting said innersleeve to an outer end of a first boom section, an outer cylindricalsleeve, means for connecting said outer sleeve to an inner end of asecond boom section and means for rotatably mounting said outer sleevearound said inner sleeve.